Live your best life

Menu

lookbook

Camden Passage, a beautiful and stimulating avenue full of vintage treasures, dainty trinkets, charming eateries and all the second hand books a girl might ever desire.

HERITAGE SQUARE by Henry London

A simple and sleek understated watch is perfect for a London day out

Inspired by the sylvan and antique beauty of Camden Passage, I wanted to feel dressy but also in tune with my surroundings. A floral full sleeved tier dress and my vintage inspired Henry London bronze watch was the perfect blend for a day out exploring the delights the passage had to offer.

The Henry London Heritage Square watch is dainty and delicate, not overpowering.

Camden Passage is a pedestrian passage off Upper Street in the London Borough of Islington. Alongside its many antique shops it also boasts quirky, picturesque back streets and contemporary markets, cafes and bars.

I spent the day here with my Mum whilst she was visiting for the weekend. We indulged in naughty Nutella crepes and trawled through the vintage stalls dotted about the passage.

Whilst you all know that I love a second hand bargain, my Mum on the other hand prefers to buy first hand. The area has the perfect balance of old and new, offering both second hand shops and also independent boutiques and well known brands.

If you’re a vintage fan, a bloguette, a foodie or a book lover, Camden Passage is a great way to pass an afternoon, grab a coffee and maybe pick up a few treats.

Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.

-Hans Christian Andersen

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Floral Frenzy look of the day as we’ve explored the Camden Passage together.

Take a Sunday stroll with me, as I talk you through my ‘Big Hair, Bigger Goals’ look and a couple of my current favourite fashion tips.

After years of abusing my naturally curly hair, I am finally coming to accept and embrace it.

In life, we generally tend to want what we can’t have and for me, that’s always been genetically straight, sleek hair (and a Hermès Birkin Bag). This year I’m making the effort to try to cut back on the number of processes that I put my hair through and thus, improve its condition.

When wearing my hair in its natural state, I find that my general appearance suddenly becomes much busier and more hectic. In order to achieve a classy and elegant look, I tend to fall back on neutral and understated colours to taper the bold style of my natural hair.

Become a scarf lover.

I can’t even begin to count the number of scarves that live inside my wardrobe.

A bold scarf can always be used to inject a thread of commotion into your more understated outfits. I tend to splash out on my scarves, as I feel they’re an item that will never go out of style and can always be recovered and revived when the colder months come by. This particular scarf is 85% cashmere which makes it super soft and cosy, it’s an investment that I know I’ll continue to wear for many years to come.

Every girl needs comfy pair of dressy trainers.

We all have those days where we want to look dressy but not too dressy.

I chose these velvet zipper high-tops from And Other Stories for their comfy and contemporary style – perfect for those long days walking through the city.

Roots can be cute.

As part of my mission to restore my hair’s condition, I decided to quit the hair bleach.

Instead of adding anymore chemicals into my hair, I took the plunge and started to grow out my roots. I must admit the first few weeks were the worst because it was still touch and go as to whether the roots looked like they were there intentionally or not.

It’s been over three months since I last had any bleach on my hair (yippee!) and I’m really starting to love my new look, not to mention the money I’m saving on hair appointments.

Oversized Blazers Are Our Friends

Don’t be afraid of the oversized blazer, when worn with the right bottoms, they won’t shorten you (and that’s coming from someone who’s 5 foot small).

An oversized blazer can give your cosy, relaxed layers a sense of polish and structure. When wearing an oversized blazer I tend to wear something tighter fitting on my lower half to avoid looking frumpy or drowned out. Oversized blazers are so versatile and can be dressed up (with a pair of heels) or dressed down (with jeans/pumps) depending on the occasion.

Welcome to Wapping. I moved to Wapping with my wonderful boyfriend just a little over two months ago. It’s a quiet and peaceful area of London, perfectly located just a stones throw walk away from the Thames Path.

Wapping is laden with character, cobbled streets, shrouded parks and cosy, snug historical pubs. It’s for this very reason, I thought it to be the perfect backdrop to talk you through two Autumn weekend looks.

As you get to know me, you’ll soon come to learn that I love to buy from second-hand shops and up-cycle my wardrobe (I’ve acquired this ethos from my Nana). I am actively working on reducing my wardrobe and changing my shopping habits. In place of my previous purchasing approach (relentlessly buying in the never-ending pursuit to get my hands on the “latest’ trends), I’m focusing on building a wardrobe of longevity. A wardrobe which comprises of high quality, cherished and handpicked pieces.

Look 1 Military Mod

Leather and Suede Knee Boots – Tamaris £129.99

Origin Leather Day Satchel – Cancer Research £10

Wool Knit Peplum Skirt – Zara £32

Military Style Blazer – Mango, Second Hand £12

Black Roll Neck – United Colours of Benetton £18

For such a long time I have been scanning the internet for the perfect pair of winter boots. I wanted a pair that would be timeless, sturdy and of a really good quality. I chose to buy a pair of Tamaris boots and so far, I have been extremely happy with them, they’re so versatile and beautifully made. If you’re struggling to find your YES boots this season I would recommend you check out Tamaris. They have a great variety of designs, they’re affordable and super comfy.

As the seasonal period approaches, my colour palette begins to shift from pastels, pales and blushes to golds, tans and burgundies. Investing in some high quality neutral staples enables me to mix and match with the more exciting pieces in my wardrobe and add a little sparkle every now and then.

Tip: A statement blazer is so accommodating if you don’t often have the time to piece together an outfit, simply wack on your basics and throw your trusty blazer over the top. In this way you look chic, simple and classy with minimal effort.

Look 2 – Black Gold

Bonfire night has been and gone which only means one thing; it’s officially Christmas. The festive period always brings about occasions to dress that little bit more glamorously. I’m not really a fan of busy, overly detailed outfits, I find that simple suits me best.

Injecting flecks of gold into my outfit adds that sense of glamour and elegance. The simple style of the dress makes this outfit super comfortable both for daytime and night-time wear. I feel glamorous but not too over the top.

Sock boots are perfect if you’re a shorty like myself. They’re really flattering on my little legs and help to give the illusion of longer, slimmer legs.

Gold maxi dress : Zara £36

Black Cropped Jumper: Topshop £22

Black and Gold Leather Waist Belt: It genuinely was my moms in the 80’s

As the weather is still slightly sporadic, I have found myself relying on the magic trick known as layering. I simply do not trust the tendencies of British weather and would rather leave the house in too many a layer than too few.